Ekstrom World Rallycross team to field Audi S1

Newly formed World Rallycross Championship team EKS, founded by double DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom, will run a pair of Audi S1 Supercars at select rounds of the series this season. The Swedish squad will build the new machines from scratch at its base in Stockholm for Ekstrom and reigning JWRC champion Pontus Tidemand.

"This year our plans are to complete as much research and development of the car as we can for the future," said Ekstrom. "Our goal is to build the best car. I grew up the in rallycross paddock because of my father, and I'm very excited about driving a Supercar this year, and to witness the sport growing into a world championship."

He raced alongside Tidemand in the Swedish round of the RallycrossRX series last season. Ekstrom drove a Marklund Motorsport VW Polo and finished second, while Tidemand also showed good speed in a Kristoffersson Motorsport VW Scirocco, but failed to make the semi-finals.

Tidemand will contest WorldRX events alongside his program in the WRC2 category of the WRC in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta R5.

"It feels really good to be with EKS, a team with real ambition to win," said Tidemand. "There is a lot of experience in the team and it's made up by members who love to compete. I can't wait for the year ahead."

EKS is yet to announce its calander of World RX events for 2014, but will miss the season opener at Montalegre, Portugal at the start of May.